Isomorph, In Absence of Light
MP3.com, 94857, 2001
www.isomorphmusic.com
info@isomorphmusic.com
Bill Kendall records as Isomorph. His home base is in Phoenix, literally a
'hot' bed of electronic music. (The southwest is, in general, a bastion for
e-music. Todd Fletcher is in Phoenix; Michael Stearns is in Santa Fe; Steve
Roach and Byron Metcalf are in Tucson. I am sure that there are more. I
just don't know who they are.)
In Absence of Light is a mp3 D.A.M. CD. And it is truly devoid of light.
Bill has created a very dark, foreboding and sinister soundscape. And it has
something extra. Not surprisingly, there are elements of desert ambience on
this CD. A slow rhythm carries the dark clouds along the flow. The nature
samples are mysterious. The atmospheres are dense, foggy, murky and gray.
There is no escape. There is no hope. There is only angst.
This is a great disc. It is hard to evoke any emotional response. It is
more difficult to do so this intensely.
(As a quick aside - Bill also performs a remix of a composition by Eric
Kessner, a.k.a. True Color of Blood, another dark minimalism specialist. It
is a natural that Bill and Eric are working together.) - Jim Brenholts
Isomorph, The Black Chasm
Isomorph Music, IMCD 1, 2001
www.isomorphmusic.com
info@isomorphmusic.com
The Black Chasm is more enigmatic dark minimalism from one of the new
practitioners of the craft - Isomorph, nee Bill Kendall. In keeping the
theme across the board, Bill even pressed this on black CDR's. It is a
beautiful and chilling affect.
But the real treat and beauty here is the music. this is total darkness and
a complete vacuum. There is no saving grace.
Years ago, there were frenetic rides at amusement parks that were designed to
scare the bejesus out of little kids. Today the rides are more sophisticated
and do not rely speed or sudden changes of pace for the fear factor. The
modern rides are like mystery novels where the plot has a chance to develop.
This CD would be the perfect soundtrack for such a ride or even for a movie.
The suspense builds and builds with no dénouement or crescendo.
Given new millennium gadgetry and technology, the ideal setting or scenery
would be a deep spacescape or sci-fi adventure. This is the perfect
soundtrack for a futuristic sci-fi outer space whodunit.
Bill shows great promise with this, his second release. Fans and deep
listeners anticipate great things from this minimalist. - Jim Brenholts